Oakland A’s pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter threw a perfect game, 48 years ago today. On Wednesday, May 8, 1968, Hunter retired all 27 Minnesota Twins he faced for a 4-0 win at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum. Hunter’s perfecto was the third of the 1960s, following gems by Jim Bunning (1964) and Sandy Koufax (1965). Also throwing…
The Detroit Tigers’ Verlander threw his second career no-hitter, five years ago today. On Saturday, May 7, 2011, Verlander no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays for a 9-0 victory at the Rogers Centre. Verlander walked just one batter in the eighth inning while striking out 4. Also throwing a no-no on this date is the New…
The St. Louis Browns’ “Bobo” Holloman threw a no-hitter in his first major league start, 53 years ago today. On May 6, 1953, Holloman no-hit the Philadelphia Athletics at Busch Stadium for a 6-0 victory. It marked the only time a pitcher thew a no-no in his first major league start in the modern era.…
May 5 is also the 70th anniversary of Leon Day’s Opening Day no-hitter in the Negro National League. On Sunday, May 5, 1946, Day no-hit the Philadelphia Stars at Newark’s Ruppert Stadium for a 2-0 win, allowing just three runners to reach first via a pair of walks and an error. He struck out six…
Colin Rea made a go of it, but the rookie right-hander just missed throwing the first no-hitter in San Diego Padres history on Thursday night. With a shift behind him, Rea gave up a seventh-inning single to the New York Mets’ Yoenis Céspedes that went right through where the second baseman normally would be stationed.…
Happy birthday to a couple of old-time no-no pitchers, Lee Richmond and “Chief” Bender. Richmond, born on this date in 1857, threw the majors’ first perfect game. The Worcester Ruby Legs southpaw retired 27 Cleveland Blues in a row on Saturday, June 12, 1880 during a National League match up at the Worcester Driving Park…